Michael Ambrosino’s Los Olvidados, a one-hour documentary on Pan-Latin artistry in jazz, is being broadcast nationwide, in Canada, and online via several non-profits that support Latin cultural events. He has just finished writing the liner notes for the forthcoming album The Panamanian Nutcracker Suite from the Afro Bop Alliance New York Big Band. He is also working on an essay about the role that critics’ polls play in jazz, which he hopes to publish soon at 33third.org.
Matty Bannond interviewed Denis Gäbel for All About Jazz last month, discussing the tenor saxophonist’s new role with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. Bannond also reviewed two albums for Free Jazz Collective in July: Hycean Worlds by Spacepilot and Future Moons by Adams, Dunn, Haas.
Jane Ira Bloom looks forward to the July 12 digital release of her project in collaboration with audio engineer/producer Ulrike Schwarz entitled Picturing the Invisible – Focus 1. The recording features eight Bloom compositions inspired by the B&W science photography of the legendary Berrenice Abbott. Featured on the recording are drummer/percussionist Allison Miller, kotoist Miya Masaoka, and bassist Mark Helias. The tracks were captured remotely using state of the art high-definition immersive recording technology and will be available on multiple platforms.
Rob Evanoff watched Gordon Goodwin wow audiences at the 42nd Annual Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival (All About Jazz highlighted his set) and the 2nd Annual MetaJAX Crypto Jazz Fest with the program “Benny, Bach, Bernstein & Beyond.” Knights of Swing won acclaim in May, nabbing Best Feature Film at the Rome International Movie Awards. Herb Alpert chimed in, “The heart and soul of our country is being shaped by young musicians of all kinds…we need them.”
Ken Franckling reviewed saxophonist Randal Despommier’s latest CD, A Midsummer Odyssey, in the July issue of New Orleans-based OffBeat magazine. The Louisiana native’s duo project with guitarist Ben Monder explores compositions written by Swedish baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin. Ken also reviewed London-based singer Jo Harrop’s new CD, The Heart Wants, in his Jazz Notes blog. In late July, he headed north to cover his 41st consecutive Newport Jazz Festival.
Doug Hall reviewed and interviewed iconic jazz trumpeter and renaissance-man of jazz Wynton Marsalis as he is performing in New England with his Septet, as well as touring with his Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra. He produced a long-form artist profile of Cécile McLorin Salvant for WICN Public Radio. He is very much looking forward to attending and covering Newport Jazz Festival at the end of summer, after a several-year personal absence.
C. Andrew Hovan recently covered the 43rd Annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland with his review and photographs featured at allaboutjazz.com. Hovan’s Organic Quartet featuring legendary percussionist Kevin Dalton Jones appeared for the second year in a row at the Trenton Jazz Society’s outdoor music series in Michigan.
Willard Jenkins is hosting a fun, bi-weekly jazz trivia contest for cash prizes called “Jazzology.” Thus far there have been 8 episodes and they’re all available for viewing on YouTube; just enter “Jazzology” in the search box. The sponsor is the music site www.SavageContent.com, where folks can sign up to play Jazzology (alternating Fridays at 2:30pm EST for 30 minutes); next episode: Friday, August 5. The current champion is Joe Petrucelli, executive director of the Jazz Foundation of America.
Sanford Josephson wrote two articles in the July/August Jersey Jazz Magazine: “One Step to Chicago: Saluting the Austin High Gang” and “Rising Stars: Ben Schwartz and Lauren Simone-Martin.” He also covered Aaron Diehl’s concert at the Princeton Music Festival.
Chuck Koton saw the late Horace Tapscott’s Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra perform June 3 at Disney’s RedCat as a 60th anniversary celebration of this inspirational, Leimert Park-based band. On June 26 he saw trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos lead an all-star band at the breathtaking Rady Shell, nestled right on the waterfront. The band included pianist Gerald Clayton, guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Rodney Whitaker, drummer Lewis Nash, and guest soloist Charles McPherson in a tribute to the music of Thelonious Monk.
Ralph Lampkin Jr. has been busy with continued PR/promotions for Chicago-based singer Josie Falbo and her appearance at the annual Little Italy Festival; he is also providing radio and promotion for the jazz-tinged single “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” from Jeff Harnar. In addition, he is promoting Seattle-based singer David Francis, whose current CD is David Francis Sings Songs of the Twenties, while also promoting California duo Maripat Davis and Richard Osborn and their CD Here’s to Love. Happy summer!
Robin Lloyd interviewed trombonist Fred Wesley and Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s leader Oscar Hernandez. She also wrote about the staff relief fund started by the owners of the iconic Seattle lounge Vito’s after a fire that caused water damage, profiled the outgoing owners of the music venue North City Bistro, and reported on the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra’s search for a new Executive Director.
Howard Mandel had career-overview interview in Music Journalism Insider, and was featured by the podcast Yesterday’s Concert on how to listen to jazz. He reviewed bassist Harish Raghavan’s album In Tense for DownBeat, and previewed the 42nd annual Chicago Jazz Festival, free, Sept 1 – 4, for the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s JazzGram. Oh yes, he’s been working on the JJA’s Sept 11 JAZZBASH!
Dom Minasi has posted a new blog for July. He has started rehearsing for a new duo CD with Jack DeSalvo for Unseen Rain Records.
Rita Rega had a very active July. She plans all year for one of the best attended outdoor music festivals in Portland—according to the Willamette Week’s “Best of Portland” issue, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival tied for second with Pickathon. She has continued to present her jazz show on KBOO FM Portland called The World of Jazz. She is currently in Europe having just attended the San Sebastián Jazz Festival.
Fiona Ross just published the July edition of the Women in Jazz Media magazine featuring articles on Sheila Jordan, Alice Coltrane, Deanna Witkowski, and Miriam Arbalejo. It also includes an article written by JJA award winner Maxine Gordon exploring the recent “Sophisticated Giants” event held in London. Fiona’s recent interviews include Natalie Greffel, Ilaria Capalbo, and Maxine Gordon. The Women in Jazz Media podcast is currently the 14th top jazz podcast in FeedSpot.
Luciano Rossetti’s last four months were very intense. The exhibition “NOTE A MARGINE” took place in different locations: At Seriate, Bari, and Ljubljana. John Scofield’s solo CD for ECM includes Luciano’s cover photo. John Corbett’s book also used Luciano’s photos. The June issue of the great Italian art magazine La Rivista di Bergamo featured an 8-page interview with him.
Lew Shaw’s column in the August issue of The Syncopated Times reveals a remarkable collection of jazz history: more than 18,000 items – autographed photographs, 1,500 records and CD’s, 3,000 hours of cassette tapes, 100 reel-to-reel audio recordings, jazz books, newsletters and newspaper articles, scrapbooks, jazz party programs, and artwork, accumulated by the late Al White Jr., who attended countless jazz events over 50 years, has been put up for sale by the White family.
Rob Shepherd interviewed bassist Anna Butterss on her debut Activities. Rob also conversed with Ronnie Foster on ‘Reboot,’ the organist’s first album since 1986. Both interviews were for PostGenre, along with a discussion with Nate Wooley on his second Columbia Icefield album, ‘Ancient Songs of Burlap Heroes.’ Finally, Rob added to PostGenre’s continuing series on the Newport Jazz Festival by interviewing Christian McBride on what to expect this summer and the influence of the late George Wein.
Michael J. West wrote an Overdue Ovation on the great Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava for JazzTimes and wrote a guide to the music of Tyshawn Sorey for Bandcamp.
